
Glass. 
Book. 



THE 

ACT OF INCORPORATION 

AND 

CONSTITUTION 

OF 

THE NEW-YORK SOCIETY, 

FOR PROMOTING THE 

41teammnj$ion of g>Iafce& 

ABD PROTECTING SUCH OF THEM AS HAVE BEEN, OR MA? 
BE LIBERATED. 

— «■ ® » ^ 

Revised and adopted, 31st. January, 1809. 

WITH THE BYE-LAWS OF THE SOCIETY ANNEXED. 

PRINTED BY SAMUEL WOOD, No. 
PEARL-STREET. 

1810. 



^ y 



5 n 

'6 4 



AN ACT, 

To incorporate the Society, formed in the State of Neiu-Tork, 
for promoting the Manumission of Slaves, and protecting such 
of them as have been or may be liberated. 

Passed February 19, 1808. 



CONTENTS. 

1. Society incorporated— 2. Style— 3, 5. Powers— 4. Estate— 6. Bye-Laws. 
7. Officers of the society— 8. Present ones how long to continue in office. 
9. Act public— 10. How long to continue in force. 

Whereas a voluntary association has for many years past 
existed in this state, by the name of " The New-York society 
for promoting the manumission of slaves, and protecting such of 
them as have been or may be liberated ;" and whereas the said so- 
ciety has represented to the legislature, that besides its exertions 
to further the humane intentions of the legislature, by aiding the 
operations of the just and salutary laws passed for the gradual 
abolition of slavery in this state, it has established a free school 
in the city of New-York, for the education of the children of 
such persons as have been liberated from bondage, that they 
may hereafter become useful members of the community ; and 
■whereas the said society has prayed to be incorporated, that it 
may be enabled more effectually to support the said school, and 
to fulfil the benevolent purposes of its association : Therefore, 

I. Be it enacted by the People of the State of Nexi<-Tork, rep- i 
resented in Senate and Assembly, That Samuel Latham Mitckcll, 
Valentine Seaman, Robert Bowne, Walter Morton, Charles 
Collins, John Murray, junior, Christopher M. Slocum, Nehc- 
miah Allen, Joshua' Underbill, William S. Burling, Egbert 
Benson, Peter Jay Munro, Elisha W. jCbg, William Johnson, 
Thomas Eddy, William Lawrence, and their associates, v. ho 
now are, and such other persons as shall hereafter Income mem- 
bers of the said society, shall be and arc hereby ordained, con- 



4 

stituted and declared to be one body corporate and politic, in 
c z fact and in name, by the name of u The New- York society for 
promoting the manumission of slaves, and protecting such of 
3 them as have been or may be liberated ;" and that by that name 
they and their successors for ever hereafter shall and may have 
succession, and by the same name be capable in law to sue and 
be sued, implead and be impleaded, answer and be answered un- 
to, defend and be defended in all courts of law and equity, in 
all manner of actions, suits, complaints and matters whatsoever ; 
and that they and their successors may have a common seal, 
and the same break, alter, change and renew at their pleasure-; 
and by the same name shall be forever hereafter capable in the 
law to purchase, take, hold, receive and enjoy, to them and their 
successors, any lands, tenements, hereditaments, goods, chat- 
tels or estate, real or personal of whatsoever nature or quality, 
in fee simple or for life or lives, or for years, or in any other 

4 manner howsoever: Provided always, That the yearly income 
or value of the said real and personal estate, do not at any time 
exceed the sum of two thousand dollars, current money of the 
state of New-York ; and they and their successors, by the same 
name, shall have full power and authority to give, grant, bargain, 
sell, demise, release, and convey to others, the whole or any 
part of such real or personal estate, on such terms, and in such 
manner and form as the said society may judge most advanta- 

5 geous for the promotion of their institution ; and that they and 
their successors shall have power, from time to time, to abolish 
any of the offices or appointments hereinafter mentioned, and 
create others in the room thereof, with such powers and duties 

6 as they shall think fit ; and shall have power, from time to time, 
to make, constitute, ordain and establish such bye-laws, constitu- 
tions, ordinances and regulations as they shall judge proper for 
the election of officers, the election and admission of new mem- 
bers, for the government and regulation of the officers and mem- 
bers, for fixing the times and places of the meetings of the said 
corporation, and for conducting and regulating all the affairs and 
business of the said corporation, and from time to time to alter, 
change, repeal, revoke, and annul the same at their pleasure : 
Provided also, That such bye-laws, rules, orders and regulations 
to be made by the said corporation, shall not be repugnant to 
the constitution and laws of the United States, or of this state. 

- II. And be it further enacted, That the officers of the said 
corporation, until otherwise ordained by the said corporation 
shall consist of one president, two vice-presidents, one secrcta- 
one assistant secretary, and one treasurer, who shall be keep- 
er of the common seal of the said corporation, one register, a 



ehairmanof the standing committee, a chairman (if the board ol 
trustees of the school, four counsellors, a chairman of the com- 
mittee of correspondence ; and that until the third Tuesday of a 

January next, and till others shall be chosen in their places, the 
present officers, and all and every the committees and trusties 
of the said school last appointed by the said society, shall be and 
continue to be the officers and the committees and trustees of 
the said corporation ; and the said committees and trustees 
shall report to and account with the same, in the same manner 
as if they were to be appointed in pursuance of the powers vest- 
ed in the said corporation by this act. 

III. And be it further enacted, That this act shall be and 9 
hereby is declared to be a public act, and shall be construed 
most favourably to effectuate the purposes hereby intended, and 
that no misnomer of the said corporation in any deed, will, tes- 
tament, gift, grant, demise or other instrument of contract or 
conveyance shall vitiate or defeat the same : Provided, the cor- 
poration shall be sufficiently described to ascertain the intention 
of the parties. 

IV. And be it further enacted, That this act shall continue jo 
and be in force for the term of fifteen years : Provided never- 
theless, that in case this corporation shall at any time divert from 

or appropriate its funds or any part of its funds, to any purpi 
or purposes other than those intended and contemplated by thi 
act, that henceforth the said corporation shall cease and deter- 
mine, and the estate, real and personal, v hereor it may then be 
seized and possesed, shall vest in the people of this state : Pro- 
vided, that nothing herein contained shall be construed to pre- 
vent the legislature at any time, within the period aforesaid, 
and in their discretion, to pass a law altering or repealing this act. 



THE 



CONSTITUTION 



OF THE 



NEW-TORK SOCIETY, 

FOR PROMOTING THE 

JlBanumt^ton of £>Iabe& 

AND PROTECTING SUCH OF THEM AS HAVE BEEN OH MAY 
BE LIBERATED. 



CONTENTS. 

'Article 1. 1. Officers of the Society, bow elected. — 2. Vacancy of offices; 

Article 2. 1. Meetings of the Society. — 2. Special meetings. — 3. Number 
to make a quorum. — 4. Absence of the Secretaries. 

Article 3. 1. President and Vice-President. — 2. Removal or resignation of 
either of them. 

Article 4. 1. The duty of the Secretaries.— 2. The duty of the Assistant 
Secretary. 

Article 5. Treasurer his duty. 

Article 6. Register his duty. 

Article?. 1 Standing Committee. — 2. Mode of their election. — 3. Number 
to be nominated by them.— 4. Times and places of meeting, and 
number for a quorum. — 5. Duty of the standing Committee. — 
6. May draw on the Treasurer. — 7. Chairman may draw on the 
Treasurer. — 8. Duty of the Chairman, and casting vote. — 9. Du- 
ty of the Secretary of the standing Committee. 

Article S. 1. Trustees of the School.- — 2. Time of meeting, and how many 
make a quorum. — 3. Powers of the Trustees. — 4. Their duty. 
5. Duty of the Chairman. — 6. Duty of the Secretary. 

Article 9. Counsellors. 

Article 10. 1. Committee of Correspondence. — 2. Their duty. — 3. Duty of 
the Chairman. — 4. Duty of the Secretary. 

Ankle 11. 1. Committee of Ways and Means. — 2. Time of meeting. — 
3. Their duty. — 4. To whom they shall account, and when.— 
5. To audit certain accounts and draw for the same. — 6. To 
keep a book of entries. — 7. Treasurer ex-officio a member. — 
8. Duty of Chairman. — 9. Duty of Secretary. 

Article 12. Persons neglecting their duty on either of the committees, to be; 
reported to the Society. 

Article 13. 1 Admission of members. — 2. To be entered on the minutes. — 
3. Admission fee how much. — 4. Honorary members how ad 
initted. — 5. No slave holder to be a member. 

Article 14. Expulsion of members. 

.-trtirlr 15. Alterations how madr' 



THE 



CONSTITUTION 



OF THE 



NEW-YORK SOCIETY, &c. 



»«■ ©-.::- 



In conformity to the preceding act of incorporation, the fol- 
lowing articles are declared to be the Constitution of " The 
New-York Society, for promoting the Manumission of Slaves, and 
protecting such of them as have been, or may be> liberated" 

ARTICLE I. 

1. The Society, annually, on the third Tuesday of January, 1 
shall elect, by a majority of votes, taken by ballot, the following 
officers, viz. A President, 1st. Vice-President, 2d. Vice-Presi- 
dent, Secretary, Assistant Secretary, Treasurer, Register, 
Chairman of the standing Committee, Secretary of the standing 
Committee, Chairman of the board of Trustees of the School, 
Secretary to the board of Trustees of the School, Eight Counsel- 
lors, Chairman of the committee of Correspondence, Secretary 
of the committee of Correspondence, Chairman of the commit- 
tee of Ways and Means, Secretary of the committee of Ways 
and Means. 

2. If any of the officers of the Society should die, resign, or 5 
be displaced, the vacancy shall be filled up, by a new election, 
in the mode prescribed; 

B 



lo 

ART. II. 

1 1 1 he stated meetings of the Society, shall be on the second 
Tuesdayofthe months of January, April, July, and November, 
at such places as shall, from time to time, be agreed on by the 
Society, and at the first stated meeting of the Society in every 
year, the Constitution shall be read, for the information of the 
members. 

2 2. Special meetings of the Society may be called by the pres- 
ident, and, in his absence, by either of the vice-presidents, on 
application from the standing committee, or Trustees of the 
school, in writing, signed by their respective chairmen, in their 
behalf, or, on request of seven members of the Society, express- 
ed in writing, and containing their reasons for such special meet- 
ing: and further, should all the officers be absent, then the pow- 
er shall vest with the standing committee or trustees of the school 
of calling, such meeting. 

3 3. Sixteen members, with the president, or either of the vice- 
presidents, shall be a requisite number for transacting business ; 
and should neither of the presiding officers be present, a presi- 
dent for the time may be chosen, who, with sixteen members, 
may proceed to the business of the meeting. 

4 4. Should the secretary and assistant secretary be absent, the 
presiding officer may nominate, and the meeting appoint, two of 
the members present to act in their stead. 

ART. III. 

t 1. The President shall have authority to maintain order in the 
meetings of the Society, and to nominate the members of all 
committees, whose appointment or election is not otherwise pro- 
vided for by the constitution. 

2 2. The vice-presidents, in the absence of the president, shall 
have, according to their seniority, the same authority as is given 
to the president ; and in case of his death, resignation, or re- 
moval, shall respectively officiate, until a new president be 
elected. 

ART. IV. 

I 1. It is the duty of the secretary to attend the meetings of the 
Society, to keep a record of their proceedings, and to cause to 



11 

be published such part of the proceedings as the Society may 
order, or the president, with the consent of the standing commit 
tee, (between the meetings of the Society) may direct. He i- 
to notify the chairman of any special committee, of the nanu 
of the members of such committee, of the object of their ap- 
pointment ; as also to give the name of every new member to the 
chairman and secretary of the committee of ways and means. 

2. The assistant secretary is to attend the meetings of the So- 
ciety, to assist the secretary in recording their proceedings, to 
give timely notice of all stated and special meetings, to notify 
every new member of his election, and present him with a cer- 
tificate of his admission, together with a copy of this constitu- 
tion, and receive his entrance fee, and account for the same to 
the chairman of the committee of ways and means. 

3. In the absence of the secretary, all the duties of his office 
are to be performed by the assistant secretary ; and in the ab- 
sence of the assisstant secretary, his office is to be discharged 
by the secretary. 

ART. V. 

The treasurer shall be required by the Society to give securi- 
ty for the faithful discharge of the trust reposed in him. He is 
to keep regular accounts of all monies by him received and 
paid ; and shall pay no monies without an order, signed by the 
president, or in his absence by one of the vice-presidents, or in 
suchmanneras is hereinafter directed ; and his accounts shall be 
examined by a committee from the society, who shall be appoint- 
ed at the meeting next preceding the annual election of offi- 
cers, and report the state of the same. 

ART. VI. 

It is the duty of the register to preserve, in a book to be b\ 
him provided, an accurate copy of the charter and constitution 
of the Society ; to record therein the laws and regulations which 
may be made from time to time ; to keep an exact list of all the 
members of the Society, their occupations and places of abode ; 
to register all deeds or acts of Manumission, which may be 
presented to him for that purpose. And enrol the names of all 
Africans, and their descendants, who may have placed tin m- 
selves under the patronage of the Society, or to whom their 
ca re shall be extended, and to take charge of the register hither* 

kept for the purposes aforesaid. 



A2 
ART. VIL 

\ 1. There shall be elected, by ballot, a standing committee, to 
consist of eighteen members, besides the chairman and secre- 
tary. 

2 2. At the next stated meeting of the Society, after the adop- 
tion of this constitution, the two members first named on the 
committee shall go out of office, and a new appointment of the 
like number be made ; and at every stated meeting, thereafter, 
the same rule of election is to be observed, as to two other mem- 
bers of the committee, in the order in which they stand on the 
minutes. 

3 3. The committee at every stated meeting of the Society, 
are to present a nomination of five persons, out of which nomi- 
nation, all vacancies in the committee shall be filled up. 

4 4. The standing committee are to meet, statedly in the first 
and third weeks of every month on the days and at the pla- 
ces the chairman shall appoint ; and at such other times as he 
shall direct or they require. Four of the committee with 
the chairman, shall be a sufficient number for the transaction of 
business ; and in the absence of the chairman, there shall be ap- 
pointed a chairman for the time, who, with five members may 
in like manner proceed to business. 

3 5. It is the duty of the standing committee, faithfully to exe- 
cute all orders given to them by the society, and generallv, to 

• pursue such measures as appear to them best calculated to attain 
the ends of this institution. And they are to report their pro- 
ceedings in writing to every stated meeting of the Society. 

6 6. The standing committee are empowered to draw on the 
treasurer of the Society for any sum not exceeding fifty dollars. 
All orders for that purpose above twelve dollars and fifty cents, 
shall be agreed to by the majority of the members present at the 
time, and be signed by the chairman and attested by the sec- 
retary. 

7 7. The chairman is authorised to draw on the treasurer for 
any sum not exceeding twelve dollars and fifty cents. 

3 8. It is the duty of the chairman, to preside at the meetings 
of the committee, and to preserve order in their deliberations^ 
He may call special meetings of the committee whenever h e 



13 

may think proper, or when required so to do, by any two of the 
members. He is to sign all reports and other official papers ; 
and appoint, under his hancl,during the recess of the committee, 
any of its members to take charge of such case, or cases, in 
which he may judge their interference necessary. In all meetings 
of the committee, he shall have a casting vote, and no other. 

9. The duty of the secretary of the standing committee shall 9 
be, to keep fair and accurate minutes of their proceedings, and 
to preserve the papers and records, and, at the request of the 
chairman, to notify the members of the times and places of 
meeting: under the direction, and with the assistance of the 
chairman, he is to make the reports of the committee in writing 
to the Society. 

10. The chairman and secretary are not required to take any 
further part in the business of the committee, than what has been 
already prescribed. 

ART. VIII. 

1. There shall be elected at the annual meeting a board of \ 
trustees for the African School, to consist of ten members, be- 
sides the chairman and secretary. 

2. The trustees are to meet statedly, once in every month ; 2 
and at such other times as the chairman shall require, and at 
such places as he may direct, or the majority ot them at any 
meeting shall appoint. Four of the members, with the chairman 
shall be a sufficient board to transact business ; and if the chair- 
man be absent, five members, including a chairman to be appoint- 
ed for the time, shall constitute a board. 

3. The trustees are empowered to procure the necessary in- 3 
structors, and to provide all necessary accommodations lor the 
school, and to make contracts, for those purposes, which shall 
be binding on the Society ; and to draw on the treasurer at all 
times for such sum or sums of money as may be necessary lor 
the support of the school. They may make any regulation*, 
which, they may deem necessary for the due government ol the 
school, and direct the course of studies and discipline therein. 
They may institute at the expense of the Society, such premiums 
as they may judge expedient for the encouragement ot the schol- 
ars intheir learning ; provided they do not exceed the sum ol 
fifteen dollars in one year. They have power to regulate the 
admission of scholars on such terms for tuition as they may 



14 

think proper, and shall once in every three months, pay to the 
chairman or secretary of the committee of ways and means, all 
monies which they may have received for tuition during the 
proceeding quarter, and shall furnish the said chairman or sec- 
retary, at the same time, with a regular list of all sums then due 
the board, together with the names and place of residence of 
those persons who are responsible for the same. 

4 4. It shall be the duty of the trustees to visit the school once 
in every month, to examine the scholars as to their proficiency 
and conduct, and to cause to be made, at each stated meeting of 
the Society, a written report of their proceeding, and of the state 
of the school, together with the sums of money drawn from the 
treasury, towards its support, and to give such further infor- 
mation respecting the school, and the objects of their appoint- 
ment, which they may judge necessary, and at the first stated 
meeting, report the number of scholars admitted during the pre- 
ceding year. 

5 5. The chairman shall preside at all meetings of the trustees, 
and preserve order therein ; and shall have a casting vote and 
no other. He may call special meetings, whenever he shall 
think proper, or when requested by any two of the trustees. — 
He is to sign all reports and other official acts of the board. 

6 6. The secretary is to keep fair and regular minutes of the 
proceedings of the trustees ; to give notice to the trustees of the 
times and places of meeting ; and under the direction and with 
the assistance of the chairman, to prepare all reports to the so- 
ciety. 

ART. IX. 

It is the duty of the counsellors to advise the Society and its 
committees, in all doubtful cases ; and when required, to urge 
before such peasons, and courts, as mav have authority to de- 
cide thereon, the claims to freedom of persons held in slavery, 
when the same shall appear to them legal. 

ART. X. 

1 1. At the annual meeting of the Society, there shall be elect- 
ed by ballot, a committee of correspondence ; to consist of four 
members, besides a chairman and secretary. 

2 2. It shall be the duty of the committee of correspondence to 
answer all letters addressed to the Society, which are referedto 



15 

them for that purpose ; and, generally, to correspond with other 
Societies, and with persons friendly to the abolition of slavery. 

3. The dnty of the chairman of the committee of correspon- G 
dence shall be to convene the committee, whenever he may 
think necessary, or on application of any one of the members. 
He is to preside at the meetings of the committee, and preserve 
order therein ; but shall have no other than a casting vote. 

4. The secretary is to preserve the papers of the committee ; 4 
keep copies, in a book to be provided, of all letters written, or 
communications made, by the committee, and a faithful record 
of all their proceedings ; and when required, to make report 
thereof to the Society. 

ART. XI. 

1. The Society shall at their annual meeting, elect by ballot, j 
four members besides a chairman and secretary to be called a 
committee of ways and means. 

/ 

2. The committe of ways and means shall meet at least once 2 
in every month on such day and place as the chairman shall di- 
rect. 

3. It shall be the duty of the committee of ways and means, 3 
to collect all monies due or growing due to the society. They 
shall require of the trustees of the school, once in every three 
months, the payment of such sum or sums of money as they 
may have received for tuition during the preceding quarter, 
together with a regular list of all sums then due the board, and 
the names and place of residence of those persons who are res- 
ponsible for the same. They shall call on the assistant secreta- 
ry, and receive from him all such sums of money as he may 
have received for entrance fees. It shall be the duty of their 
chairman, prior to each of their regular meetings to call on the 
treasurer and ascertain the state of the funds of the Society, and 
should they require it, they shall take measures to replenish the 
same by public subscription or otherwise. They shall uccount 4 
the week previous to each stated meeting of the Society, to the 
treasurer for such monies as they may have received during the 
recess of the same. They shall inquire into and audit all ac- 5 
counts brought against the Society, and not otherwise provided 
for by the constitution, and the treasurer is authorised to pay the 
same upon their feeing signed by the chairman and attested by 
the secretarv. Thev shall keep a book, in which shall be enter- 



16 

ed all their transactions, together with the dates and sums of 
money by them received, and shall report to the Society at 
each stated meeting their proceedings. 

4. The treasurer ex-officio shall be a member of this com- 
mittee, and shall receive notice with other members of the 
time and place of all their meetings. 

5. It shall be the duty of the chairman to preside at the meet- 
ings of the committee, and preserve order during their deliber- 
ations, and in his absence, the Secretary on the application of a- 
ny one member shall call a special meeting, and when assembled 
they shall appoint a chairman pro-tempore. The chairman is 
to sign all reports and other official acts of the committee. 

6. It shall be the duty of the secretary to keep fair and ac- 
curate minutes of their transactions, to preserve all papers and 
documents relating to their poceedings, he shall notify the mem- 
bers of ail meetings ordered by the chairman, and shall assist 
him in making Up their reports, and attest the same. 

ART. XII. 

If any member of the standing committee or of the board of 
trustees, shall neglect to attend their meetings, or to perform the 
business thereof, without satisfactory reasons, it shall be made 
the duty of the committee, and of the board of trustees respec- 
tively, to report the same to the Society, and another member 
shall be elected in his stead. 

ART. XIII. 

1. Any person who is desirous to be admitted a member of 
this Societv, shall be proposed at one of the stated meetings and 
be balloted' for at the next stated meeting ; and, on counting the 
ballots, if three fourths of the members present shall be found 
in his favour, he shall be declared a member. 

2. The name of the person proposed shall be entered, with 
the name of the member who proposed him, in the minutes by 
the secretary. 

3. Every person on being admitted a member, shall pay into 
the hands of the treasurer, three dollars ; and every member oi 
'he Society shall pay the sum of two dollars yearly. 



17 

4. Honorary members may be admitted in the same manner 4 
as resident members ; and shall be exempted from all payments ; 
and shall be entitled to the same privileges as other members, 
excepting the right of voting on any question. 

5. Any member of the Society who may be the owner of a 5 
slave, shall forfeit the right of membership, unless he manumit 
such slave, and no person owning a slave shall be admitted a 
member. 

ART. XIV. 

The Society have the right of expelling any member, who af- 
ter a fair and impartial examination, shall be found unworthy of 
being connected with the institution ; provided three fourths 
of the members present shall agree to such expulsion. 

ART. XV. 

No alteration shall be made in this constitution, unless no- 
tice thereof, in writing, be given to the Society, one meeting, at 
least, before the time proposed for making such alteration. 



THE 



BYE-LAWS 



OF 



The New-York Society, 

FOR PROMOTING THE 

^anumt^ton of &lato& 

AND PROTECTING SUCH OF THEM AS HAVE BEEN, OR MAY 
BE LIBERATED. 



BYE-LAWS 

Of The New-York Society, for promoting the Manumission of 
Slaves, and protecting such of them as have been, or may be 
liberated. 

ART. I. 

Sec. 1. A constitutional number of the members having as- 
sembled, the president, or, in his absence, either of the vice- 
presidents, or in their absence, a chairman for the evening, shall 
be appointed who shall call to order. 

2. The members having come to order, the minutes of the 
last meeting shall be read, that if any mistake should have oc- 
curred, the same may be corrected. 

ART. II. 

1. The report of the standing committee shall he produced 
and read. 

2. The report of the trustees of the school shall be produced 
and read. 

3. The report from all special committees, in the order in 
which they stand on the minutes. 

4. Committees appointed to report on a subject referred to 
them, by the Society, shall report a state of facts in writing, 
and also their opinions thereon. 

ART. III. 

1. When two or more members shall rise at the same time, 
for the purpose of speaking, the president, or presiding officer 
shall decide, who has the preference. 



22 

2. Every member, wishing to speak, shall rise in his place 
and address the chair ; and shall be considered out of order to 
act otherwise. 

3. No member shall speak more than twice to any question, 
unless to explain, or having permission so to do from the presi- 
dent ; nor more than once, until every member desirous of 
speaking, shall have been heard. 

4. No question or motion shall be debated, or past', unless 
the same be seconded. When a motion is seconded, it shall be 
stated by the president for debate, and every such motion shall 
be reduced to writing, if desired by any member. 

5. After a motion is stated by the president, it shall be deem- 
ed to be in possession of the Society, but the same may be 
withdrawn, at any time before decision or amendment. 

6. When a question is under debate no motion shall be receiv- 
ed unless, 

1st. To amend the same, 

2d. To committee it, 

3d. To postpone it to a certain day, 

4th. For the previous question, 

5th. To adjourn. 

7. A motion to adjourn, shall always be considered in order, 
and the same shall be put, and decided, without debate. 

ART. IV. 

1. The previous question, until it is decided, shall preclude all 
amendments and debates of the main questions, and shall be in 
form, " shall the main question now be put." 

ART. V. 

1. A motion for commitment, until it is decided, shall preclude 
all amendments of the main question. 

ART. VI. 

1. Every member who shall be present, when a question is 
put, shall vote for or against the same, unless the Society shall 
excuse him, or he be immediately interested in the question, in 
which case he shall not vote. 



23 
ART. VII. 

1. A member called to order, shall sit down, unless permit- 
ted to explain, and the Society if appealed to, shall decide with- 
out debate. Should no appeal be made, the decision of the pres- 
ident shall be considered as acquiesced in. 

2. All questions shall be put in the order in which they are 
submitted. Except in filling up blanks, when the same shall be 
put on the largest number, or longest time first. 

ART. VIII. 

1. The question for re-consideration having been put, and 
negatived, it shall not be renewed a second time, without the 
unanimous consent of the Society. 

ART. IX. 

1. The president or presiding officer, shall have the casting 
vote, where the members present are equally divided ; but in 
the election of officers, or on all questions where more than a 
majority is required, in the affirmative by the constitution, he 
shall there have a vote in common with the other members. 

ART. X. 

1. After the regular business shall be gone through, new prop- 
ositions, either for the consideration of the Society, or for mem- 
bership shall be next in order. 

2. Election of officers, or filling up vacancies in the standing, 
or other committees shall next succeed. 

3. Balloting for persons proposed for membership, at a pre- 
vious meeting, shall be left for the last business of the Society 
when convened. 

ART. XI. 

No member shall leave the room, for the purpose of absent- 
ing himself from a meeting of the Society, without first obtaining 
permission from the presiding officer. 

FINIS. 



